Thing 7

I was looking forward to this Thing - on face-to-face networks and professional organisations - as
CILIP London had organised an event to coincide with it. So last Thursday evening I popped along to their offices, listened to a few speakers and got involved in discussions with other cpd23 participants over a glass of wine (or two!).

All of the speakers were involved with professional groups (mainly CILIP ones) in one way or another. There were also a few other people attending who volunteered with CILIP groups. It was clear that they thought it was a worthwhile thing to do. Although the main concern raised by other cpd23 participants was that it would take up a lot of spare time, some of those who volunteered said that it need not be the case.

It did get me thinking that I should go further than just being a CILIP member and following online discussion. I think I will try to offer my help to one of the groups I joined on CILIP in the coming months. I will have to now that I have written it!

I have also been thinking about Chartership for a few weeks now. However, as I am not in a permanent position at my workplace, I think it would be better if I wait. I may be wrong but what I have read of the Chartership process suggests that it is best to have some continuity.

Overall Thursday's event confirmed to me that, although online networks have opened a whole new world to me, I still prefer the old-fashioned meeting people face to face.